Poor quality air in Ireland leads to 3,400 deaths a year

An Taisce has sent a trust to the minister of health and the minister of the environment to seek cleaner air not only for Ireland but all of Europe
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In an effort to advocate that Europe needs to avoid long term pollution issues, An Taisce has sent a trust to the minister of health and the minister of the environment to seek cleaner air not only for Ireland but all of Europe. James Nix, Policy Director with An Taisce, hopes Ireland's upcoming EU Presidency will help deflate Europe's growing number of premature deaths due to pollution.

Nix explained that Europe’s pollution statistics as a whole are, “frightening,” and contribute to, "420,000 premature deaths and up to €790 billion in economic costs.”

Nix went on to point out to the Irish Independent "We're fully familiar with the consequences of weak legislation and poor regulation in the financial sector; when it comes to protecting people from air pollution, particularly the very young and elderly, the fallout is even more stark."

Conditions like asthma and bronchitis are becoming more common and more deadly with growing rates of pollution.

An Taisce says that Ireland is in an ongoing breach of EU law because high levels of nitrogen oxides coming mostly from automobile traffic in the country. According to An Taisce, the pollution will cost Ireland big in the long run if not regulated.